Process of dry distilling and carbonizing crude peat



Nov. 13 i923.

O. POHL PROCESS OF DRY DISTILLING AND GARBONIZING CRUDE FEAT Filed Aug. 24. 1921 OTTO PCH w m w. m T N XM E V N .l w

Patented Nev. 13, 1923.

UNETE STTES PATENT OTTO POI-IL, OF PLANEGG, NEAR- IMUNICH, GERMANY.

PROCESS OF DRY DISTILLING AND CAR-BONIZING CRDE PEAT.

Application filed. August 24, 1921. Serial No. 494,883.

(GRANTEDUNDER THE PROVISIONS 0F THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L.,

.To all fav/rom. t may concern.'

Be it knoivn that I, Dr. O'r'ro Porra, citizen ot Germany, residing at Planegg, near Munich, Bavaria, Germany, have invented certain neu7 and useful Improvements in a Process or Dry Distilling and Carbonizing Crude Peat, tor which applications have been tiled in Germany as follows: January 23, 1920, Patent No. 337,097; February 23, 1920, Serial No. 23,684; June. 22, 1920, Serial No. 24,113; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such Vas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a process of dry distilling and carbonizing crude peat, or other substances of a similar nature, in a retort and the objectot the present invention is to overcome certain ditiiculties heretofore encountered in similar operations and to make the Whole process more economical and paying, all ot which ivill be hereinafter duly explained.

In describing` the said invention refern V ence is had to the drawings herewith in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 is'a transverse section through an existing form of retortadapted for carrying out this improved process. Figures 3 and 4C are similar sections through a retort improved as hereinafter explained, While Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through still another retort embodying an improvement to be hereinafter more particularly described.

As is generally known to those familiar with the subject, crude peat contains up to about ninety-live per cent ot' water. The coking temperature ot' the organic substance therein contained begins at about tivo hundred degrees Celsius. Accordingly, all processes the object of which is to co` vert peat Vinto coal or coke are based` upon .heating the crude peat in closed vessels under pressure Without a previous removal of the Wat'er contained in the material or upon methods in which the Water is partially or entirely removed prior to heating, the dehydrated peat being then treated until the. organic matter has been converted into coal or coke.

In the method first mentioned pressure is exerted and the peat is heated to temperatures of about three hundred degrees until separation of the watery part from the solid residue, which is in fact pulverized coal., takes place Within the retort, there being no distillation of peat nor any production ot' solid pieces of coke. In the second-nientioned method pressure is applied in some cases, While in others a vacuum is used instead thereof.

ln the processes employing' a pressure peat bricks or cakes are in many instances heated in closed receptacles and then left to coal so that the volatile intermediate vapors developed are not discharged during the process, but are permitted to remain in those receptacles. where they condense to tarry sul stances which are absorbed by the small peat coal particles, converting the product obtained direct into a solid substance. Ac cordingly, also in this case no distillation takes place, nor are any byproducts obtained.

This production ot` by-pro ;lucts is in theory possible in those of' the already known processes Where a vacuum is made use oit. In cases, however, Where a vacuum alone is resorted to it is not practicable to obtain a peat coke oit but moderate solidity from a crude peat containing some ninetytive per cent ot Water, because there is no possibility of soliditication ot the dehydrated peat upon which the solidilication ot the coke depends.

Now, it is the object ot the present process to remove these difficulties and render the distillation ot crude peat, Whatever percentage of Water the same may contain, practicable, Veven to entire carbonization, under separation of the Water, and to obtain at the same time all the by-products which are derivable from distillation in an uninterrupted operation, down to the production ot' a solid pressure-proof coke.

This object will be substantially obtained by heating the peat under the alternate application of pressure and vacuum. By making use in this process oi a retort with radi ators extending throughout the same the degree of heat of each individual radiator and of each portion ot the peat immediately i the charge andthe blades.

ture are to be disengaged, as, for instance, when it is desired to obtain a 2greater output of illuminating gas, the operations may be condensed underpressure. Thus the operator may at will obtain by properly applying,` pressure and lvacuum a larger or smaller quantity of any of the b f-products-a circumstance of great importa-nce for the economical management of the carbonizationof peat.

' As can be seen the Whole process is carried through in one tank down to complete carbonizing without the requirement of :an additional apparatus.

It has further been found that in carryin@l out the above described process in which the heating' is effected with the alternate use of pressure and vacuum, it may become necessary to give the peat or other matter in the retort a smaller or larger consistency. In order to attain this a plunger may be employed which may be set in motion by a spindle or by any other suitable means. This permits of a further desiccation of the peat by compression` or the desiccated peat may be reduced toV any desired solidity or consistency which also controls the solidity and consistency of the coke produced. In addition, this device permits of providing space by a pressing together the contents of the retort Which space may be re-l'ilied with a new charge of the raw material. This afu fords the possibility of filling the whole boiler or retort With desiccated and reduced peat, so that at last a big bulk'of desiccated mater may be subjected to carbonization and 'thereby a great output. of the coke obtained. The said plunger may also be used for withdra-Wing,` the desiccated and reduced peat from the apparatus.

To obtain the lbest results from the above described process it is preferred to proceed in such Way that simultaneously with the soliditication of the charge within the retort the body of compressed peat will by means of axiil knives be divided into a plurality of longitudinal pieces.

This cutting' facilitates the escape of the moisture during` the compression and consequently the peat may be compressed into a more solid and compact mass fromwithin the closed retort. Also the further treat- Vment with a view of drying and carbonizing the solid peat obtained during the compression in ythe retort Will by the cutting apart of the same be considerably facilitated.

The axial blades intended for the cutting of the solidified peat may be attached to the plunger mentioned, or they may be mounted in the rear portion of 'the closed retort so, that in the former case the axial blades cut into the compressed charge ivhile. in the other case the charge between the blades Will be solidified by the plunger moving against lf -the axial )luner c. The drawino` exemaiilies the said knives as attached tothe plunger c in` such positions that they are in radial planes passing` through the longitudinal-axes of the radiators and crossing each other in the central line of the cylindrical retort.

ll'vhenever the plunger c is moved forward into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, the knives cut into the longitudinal pieces c of segmental section (see Figure 4).

In the same manner the knives d may be attached to the rear part of the inside of the retort ay or to the ivall f in the rear end of the retort. v

If desired the knives tl may be so disposed that they cross the retortbetxveen the radiators b.

Further-incre, the knives may be perforated to facilitate the discharge of the water.

In the methods, just described, the charge which is subjected to dry distillation. as, for instance. the crude peat referred to, will during its treatment in a closed retort be more or less consolidated by the plunger in the manner described.

Now it has been found that in carrying out this process a very good compressed peat containing any desired reduced quantity of water will be obtained, if the distillation is interrupted. at the moment the water contained in the feed has been substantially diminished. The compressed peat in 'this partially desiccated state may be taken out of the retort and re-dried by means of the steam which is always proiluced during the process and which may, preferably, be taken from another retort, provided for carryingy out 'the same process in the saine establishment.

However, instead of carrying out the processes in the manner above described for the solidiication of the peat, certain methods modified as described and hereinafter set forth may be resorted to. In accordance ivith such method, the Water which is mechanically and colloidally present in the peat is liberated by a small expenditure of the heat and the resulting pressure of the steam developed by the heatingv of one. several or all of the portions of the charge ot peat, and is then together With the peat pressed out of the retort. Preferably. only the inner Zones oi the retort should be heated or, if all the zones are Aheated the'ine ner zones inustibe more intensivelyheated, whereby the. development ot the steam as well as thertorces of thefpressure are made to operate from: inside outward.. For this purpose the retort may be providedurith one` or: a `plurality ot .draininpl pipes-each otnvhic-h. has a valveu'hich iskept .closed until the water, which niustbe separated and forced by the steanrinto the respective drainingpipe or pipes has collected in-the saine.

A retort constructed. for this purpose is illustrated in a longitudinalsectionV in Figi'- ure `mvhich shows the retort (t the radi ators the steam.dischareingnpipe c with a valrer, a manometer c. and. at the. bottom a. .draining pipe f with a. valve g, .the saiddraiw ing `pipe beingrpreferably separated 'from the peat bya perforated'jacket 7i to prevent the enteringotl peat matter into theysaid pipe. The rear end ot the latter may be open altogether -or it ymay be provided withi Vperforations orslots to enable thewater to` enterit. e

Now, when the innermost ot' theradiators Y) is heated, the small steam` quantity rup to about eight atmospheres -ivhi-ch. is developed will be sutlicient to liberate the Water present'in the peat and to torc'eit towards `and into the drainingpipe fi the `valve ot which is'kept closed and Willbe only opened when a. quantity oiy water has collected and lthen the steamy in` the retort. will completely` expel such Water. This process may,otcourse, becombined Wit-h a simultaneous compression oi? the peat in accordance u'ith the previously described method. thoughl the two methods may loe-practiced insuccession.

.lt .will beunderstood that the peatinthe retort :may by the steam developed bemade e to decomposemerely and then expelledto- `c'cther u'ith the. water; Without. draining? ,ott water througlithe valve, by removinwthe cover ot theretort, or itiniay be expelled 'lronrthe-retort1inany .other way or bv.` any othersuitablevmeans tor further treatment outsideo't' the same. For instance. thepcat thus consolidated may be put ina press, the Water being' yentirely expelled. in v.the latter and the peat solidified.

1What is claimed is tl'iefolloiving:

1. The `herein-described process of distilli-np;` and` carbonizing crudepeator. matter et' similar nature in `a. closed ret0rt..\vhich consistsin heating. thepeat or. .the like under varyingtemperature and v.alternate `application otpressure and vacuum.

2. The herein described process of distilling and carbonizingcrude 'peat or matter or similar nature in a closed retort,

. which .consists in independently heating Vvarious zones of the4 peat or the like. to differenttemperatures, and expellingjthe gases and .vapors produced in a zone ot a certain temperature throughmones of other tem.- perature.-

:3. The herein described process ot ;V distilliugl and carboniyiii'ig crude peat or the like inY a .closed retort which consists in heating the peat or thelike under alternat-eapplication of .pressureand vacuum, and `at the same` time consolidating. it-

l. rlhe herein describedprocess -ot distilling and carbonizing crude peat. or the like, which consists in heating .the peat or the like .under alternate'application of 'pressure and. vacuum, and at the same time separating it into a plurality ot consolidated pieces. Y

5. The hereindescribed process ot dis` tillingr, and carbonizing,crudeV peat or the like, Awhichcousists in placingcrude peat or the like in a. closedwretort, 4heating..,the peat in the retort under alternate application of pressure and vacuum, `compressing thevpeat in the .-retort, and then 4re1noving.;.it in .a compressed ,state from `the retort.

6. The herein described process of dis'- tilling. and carbonizing crude. peat .or the like,,\vhich consists in placinggacharge of peat or the like in a closed retortindepend ently heating under alternate application .ot pressure and vacuum different zones o't'lfthe charge in the retort, compressing the chai-gie in the retort andcutting Vit into separate pieces, andA then removing: the compressed pieces fronrthe retort.

7. `The herein described process of distilling` andcarbonizing crude peator the Y like, `which. consists in-.placingga charge, Ot peat .or the like inaclosed retort, heating the charge, iireeingrthe Water thatis -inechanically and vcolloidally present inthe charge by means of the heatand .the prcssure of the, steam. developed;thereby, and pressing .thewater out-.of the retort. Y

8. The herein described'process of distillingi' and carbonizino.crude peationtlie like, which consists in placingafcharge of peat or thelike ina retort, freeing' the Water that is meclmnically and colloidally` present in the charge byV heat and steam pressure thus vdevelopedcollecting: .the treed ',Water, and then. discharginglhe water 'from the retort..

9. ln a-device for listilling-ancl: carboniZingcrude-peat or the like., aV retort containing, the peat. or :the like, .radiators extending? through said retort,..knives .within said retort,an.d means-for relatively moving said knives andthe peat .or the like.

10. ln-.a device for. distilling.;and carbonizing'A crude. peat onthe like, a retort containingithe peat or the like, a plurality of radiators extendingthrough said retort, a plunge-r. within said retort, and knives radially .mounted ,on said. plunger .with respect .to said retort..

1l. Ina: device Vfor distilling and carbonllO izing crude peat or the like, a substantially cylindrical retort, radiators extending therethrough, a plunger Within said retort, and knives mounted on said plunger to out the peat or the like into segments.

l2. In a device for distilling'and Carbonizing Crude peat or the like, a cylindrical retort containing the peat or the like, a plurality of radiators extending through the retort parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof, a plunger Within said retort, knives mounted on said plunger to pass between the walls of said radiators nearest to the center line of the retort, and knives mounted on said plunger to pass between the Walls of the radiators and the Wall of the retort.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto atlix my signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

DR. OTTO POHL. lVitnesses PAUL DREY, RICHARD LUZ 

